can’t grasp

To help students play independently, attach toys to a plastic or rubber placemat with thin strands of elastic. If a toy happens to fall off the mat, students with limited fine motor skills can scoop the elastic bands and bring the toy back to the playing surface. Attach cookie cutters, mini-rolling pins and plastic pizza cutter to create a play mat compatible with clay and playdoh tasks.

Velcro each space and piece to increase stability. Use puff paint or glue to raise lines between spaces.
Laminate or use clear contact paper to coat flimsy game or boards.

Here is a summer project you can do if you need to attach a single switch to a mouse but lack the funds for the switch interface. A single switch acts as the left mouse button and enables an individual with limited motor skills to access the computer and software.
The cost for an off-the-shelf, single switch interface is about $100. You can adapt a mouse yourself so that a single switch can be plugged into it. This do-it-yourself project will allow you to spend your budget on other needed items.

Materials:

• One 24 inch long, 5/8 inch dowel
• One 1-1/4 inch metal cup holder hook
• One plastic-coated hat/coat hook
• 24 inches of pipe insulation with 5/8 inch hole (optional)

Directions:

1. Pre-drill starter holes in each end of dowel.
2. Insert dowel into pipe insulation (optional).
3. Put a dab of glue in one hole of dowel.
4. Twist cup holder into hole, being careful not to split dowel.

Some small objects may be difficult for children to grasp. Attach shower curtain rings to them using a glue gun. The large ring is easier for the child to hold enabling them to use the cup, stamp, stencil, etc.

To increase participation in activities at the sandbox, attach foam to the handles of plastic flour scoops and enable students with limited grasp to dig or move sand independently. To increase student participation in activities involving playdoh or clay, add foam to the handle of a plastic pizza cutter.

Materials:

• Party favors/Action figures
• Poker chips
• Shower curtain rings
• Hot glue gun and glue stick

Directions:
1. Mount each action figure on a poker chip using the hot glue—put a dab of glue on each surface of the figure that contacts the chip. Let set at least 2 minutes.

Moving targets are hard to grab! Help students with limited grasp or fine motor skills play with wheeled toys by gluing raised knobs to mobile cars, trucks and airplanes. Try the wooden candle cup holders sold at most hobby shops.

A child that has difficulty grasping objects may be unable to manipulate puzzle pieces. For some children, simply cutting notches into the side of each of the puzzle pieces may make them easier to grasp. Adding handles of some kind to puzzles can also make them accessible. A knob, empty thread spool, or section of dowel rod may make a handle that a child can grasp. If the puzzle came with knobs, but they are too small, simply replacing them with larger knobs can make the puzzle accessible. If the child cannot grasp a handle, adapting the puzzle with Velcro may be the solution.

Materials:

• Hook and loop Velcro (sticky back)
• ½ inch elastic long enough to wrap around child’s hand one time with overlap of 1 inch

Instructions:
Sew a 1 inch piece of hook Velcro to one end of elastic and a one inch piece of loop Velcro to another end. Sew a two inch piece of hook Velcro at the middle of elastic. Stick a piece of loop Velcro onto the toy that the child wishes to play with to allow for grasping.